The Democrats of their day, McKay, Faust, ect. were members of a party that is
totally different from todays Democrat Party. You ask any of those Democrats in
their time about such issues as abortion, same-sex marriage, debt, welfare, ect.
and they would have sounded much more like todays Republicans than todays
Democrats.

Wow, I didn't know that about Bay Buchanan or Eldridge Cleaver. Nor did I
know that Mr. Cleaver became a conservative Republican in later life. In any
case, don't forget Reed Smoot, whose tariff law aggravated the Great
Depression (or so I have read).

Ralph Harding, a faithful member of the church, served as a Congressman from
Idaho in the 60's and ran for the Senate against Len Jordan. Ezra Taft
Benson campaigned against Harding, because Harding, a Democrat, went on the
House floor and challenged the then popular notion that all Mormons were members
of the John Birch Society.

I have to add my Great-Grandfather to the list. David M. Kennedy was Secretary
of the Treasury under Nixon, and later served as US ambassador to NATO. Later
in life he served as a special representative of the First Presidency to the
world. The BYU center for International Studies is named after him.

I appreciate SamSmith's research and contribution to the discussion. I am
not sure what the purpose of the article or list was.

When I was
younger there seemed to be a hunger to identify or single out anyone with some
degree of fame (for want of a better word) who was even remotely connected to
the Church or Utah. Why this was I could not really understand.

A
problem with such lists is that there might be other candidates for inclusion
that are excluded and we are left to wonder what the criteria for inclusion
were. David M. Kennedy is one example as previously mentioned.

This
is a nice puff piece but I am still wondering what the "news" in this
article is.

I agree with SamSmith. If the idea is to identify Mormons in politics, I'm
fairly certain it is to identify those who represented the LDS Church reasonably
well in their dealings. There were actually several "Mormons" in the
Reagan Administration, if you count those who had little to do with the Church,
including one in this article that SamSmith didn't mention.

What James E. Faust said is as true now as it was then. Proof can be found in
the extremism of Utah's elected representatives in DC, especially Mike Lee,
a key player in the seditious actions of the Tea Party Republicans who will
wreck the nation if they don't get their way. Mormon voters need to stop
demonizing the Democratic Party; it ain't perfect, that's for sure,
but still.... When I read the Book of Mormon, I note that whenever the Nephites
are threatened by anything other than the Lamanites, the threats are things like
Gadianton robbers (greedy people who wanted to hoard the Nephites' wealth
all for themselves), secret combinations (like the organizations which peddle
lies to Americans and try to hide which of the rich plutocrats are funding their
lies), or "king-men" (like the Southerners in the Tea Party who think
they should be in charge "just because", and who don't give a fig
for democracy or the Constitution). As evil as needless abortions and sex
outside of marriage may be, the actions of the Tea Party extremists have caused
far more evil and suffering in this nation than the Dems could ever hope to.

too bad the number one name on the list is the biggest stumbling blick to
anything getting done in congress, that he is the one more responsible for the
government shut-down than anyone other than perhaps BO himself.

You forgot two:Reva Beck Bosone, a Congress woman in forties and fifties, former
judge in SL and also Ut. State Supreme Justice George W. Latimer who was one of
the first of three judges to serve on the U.S. Court of Military Appeals from
1951 for 10 years in Washington, D.C.

Yeah, good old Harry Reid. His latest accomplishment: The Harry/Barry shutdown
of government because they couldn't get blanket carte blanche on spending
us further into oblivion with their amazing "health care" piece of
legislation.

I believe a more fitting headline for this story is Prominent Politicians and
Government Officials with LDS Roots... For I do not see Harry Ried's
actions as being evidence of prominence within his claimed religion. When I see
him I do not glory in his association with the church. I ponder instead of why
can't he wear his religion on his shirt better while in Washington?

Very good point. I think back to Jack Kennedy for
example in the 1960's and he would most likely be a moderate Republican
today. Today's Democrats - for the most part at the national level - are
radicals and not just liberals. Big difference.

The tea party wants to eliminate the EPA. That would give business a free reign
to pollute at will. Sounds extreme to me. airnaut. I believe Pres. Grant was
guilty of getting involved in politics. And what about President Benson's
infamous quote that you can't be a good Democrat and be a good church
member. That was a few years back when there wasn't as much difference
between the parties.

Senator Harry Reid, you are a great American. I am so proud that you represent
your state and your Church with character and dignity. I wish you represented
the state of Utah. We need more good LDS men of character, compassion and
courage like you in Congress. When will more sensible and inspired citizens
like Senator Reid step up to the plate for this country. God Bless you Senator
Reid - keep up the good work!

Harry Reid on George W. Bush. "I think this guy is a loser." Way to
represent the LDS religion. Harry Reid is a Democrat Politician first,
foremost, and always. I have never seen him offer a tone of compromise or
reconciliation.

Any of you who say that Harry Reid and President Obama are responsible for the
government shut down need to stop using illicit drugs and go speak to your
bishops about such use. If you are not paying enough attention to the situation
to understand that this has been caused by a few radicals in the tea-party and
how they hold John Boehnor hostage, than i is not possible to convince you that
you are wrong. However, just know that all the polls now show you are in the
very small minority in your opinion. As for Harry Reid, any of you who say
he is not a good Mormon ought to be ashamed of yourselves. To judge his merits
as a church member because of your own political views is in and of itself
un-Mormon and un-Christlike. Harry Reid keeps a Book of Mormon in his office
right next to the senate to give to anyone interested, and he apparently has
given out many. When was the last time you handed out Books of Mormon? Whether
or not Harry Reid is a good church member is between him and God. Go remove the
beams from your own eyes first…

Harry Reid shows more
compassion to his fellow men than most. His desire to help people get and keep
health care benefits is noble. Why he gets 'beat up' for that is
beyond me. I guess my defenition of being a good Christian, is different than
some of you. I can't understand why any decent person would be against
every human receiving the best possible medical care. You should not have to be
rich to enjoy the advances of medicine.

The Tea Party people care
about policies, while the rest of the political world (Dem's and most
'regular' Republicans) care about people.

I'm
surprised members of the 'Christian' community are not more upset with
others, such as Senator Mike Lee, for showing such little regard to the needs of
our fellow men. Yes, he pushes for spending cuts, which is financially good,
but the cost in terms of the human toll is too high for me.

I find it ironic, that very few of the comments on this page, are kind,
respectful, tolerant, or even completely accurate. To combine my religious
faith, with bipartisan bickering, is a joke, and it isn't right. The
Lord's primary concern is our covenants with Him, not our political views.
He is more concerned with our spiritual and moral development and uprightness,
than our opinions about healthcare or the economy. The point of this list was to
inform the readers of members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
who have served in government and civic positions. That's it. Full stop.
Period. End of sentence. I don't understand why some people thrive on
discontent, mean spirited criticism, and contention. In such a scenario,
everybody loses, and everybody goes home having learned nothing, except that the
DN's comment section is a great place to participate in a
doctrinal/political/religious mudfight. I have seen so many rude comments on
these comment spaces, I honestly don't know why the moderators allow such
snarky and rude comments. It is acceptable to disagree, but it is unacceptable
to be disagreeable.

The Tea Party did NOT move to shut down the government (as you said about Sen.
Mike Lee) - the GOP House budget funded the ENTIRE government EXCEPT
Obamacare.... Obama, Reid, and the Democrats refused to accept the budget and
force the shutdown showdown...